Electrical contact device



Feb. 13, 1945- c. A. wooDw-ARD ELECTRICAL CONTACT DEVICE Filed Dec. 10, 1942 Q C'Zemeni a1. modward,

, M Zwa J I W in the field with merely tion, reference being of illustration shown Patented-Feb. 13, 1945 ELECTRICAL CONTACT DEVICE Clement A.

Woodward, Wellesley, Mass, assignor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass, Application December The present invention relates to improvements in electrical contact devices such as plug and socket devices, and aims generally to improve the construction of such devices.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a plug or socket device which is of extremely simple construction and which will effect a very eflicient electrical connection.

'A further object of the invention is the provision of an electrical contact, such as a plug or socket device, which may be readily mounted in its support, with a minimum amount of labor, and which, if damaged in 1188,1112? be replaced the aid of a pair of pliers.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved plug or socket device of such construction that the electrical conductor may be easily and as eificiently connected thereto.

.Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, from a consideration of the following descripmade to the accompanying a corporation of Massachusetts 10, 1942, Serial No. 468,530

1 Claims. (01. m-i-sss) 'tached to a core. though it will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to such types of plugs.

I The plug and socket may be substantially identical in their mounting portions and each comprises a closed body portion l0, preferably-cylindrical in shape and of relatively less length than the thickness of the insulating support in which the device is to be mounted. The body portion is joined at one end by a crescent shaped extension portion ll, preferably semi-circular in shape and preferably of a radius equal to the drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawing: I

Fig. l is a side elevation of an improved plug and socket embodying the invention, the plug and socket being mounted in their respective supports which are illustrated in section;

Fig. 2 is a-similar view with the plug and socket member illustrated in section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the plug or socket as taken on either of the lines 3-3 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a similar view as taken on either of the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the plug or socket device illustrating an electrical conductor in place relative thereto and prior to connecting the device thereto;

Fig. 6 is a similar viewv after the plug or socket has been connected to the conductor core;

. The opposite end of the Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the form of plug or socket embodying the invention;

Fig. 8 is a disassembled sectional view illustrating the manner of employing the invention in the construction of a plug device of the bananapin type; and

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6 to show the manner of attaching the conductor to the terminal portion,

Referring to the drawing, I have for purposes the invention as applied to plug members of the so-called banana-pin type wherein the plug member has a resilient cage at-' preferably cylindrical radius of the cylindrical portion In, and this semi-circular portion nal portion It by means gible portion l3 of less peripheral length than the semi-circular portion.

The body of the plug or socket above described may be made in any convenient manner. Advantageously, it maybe made from a section of a drawn tube cut to desired be punched or drilled transversely at the point where it is desired to establish the weakened por-. tions l3 and then sawed transversely at the point to establish the body portion In of desired length. tube may then be slit diametrically to remove a semi-cylindrical section beyond the cylindrical portion, thus leaving the semi-circular portions H and 12 connected by the semi-circular notches H formed by the previously drilled or punched transverse holes. This establishes the weakened portion l3.

The distance from the remote and cylindrical portions It! to the center of the notches I4 is preferably equal to the thickness of the insulating support IS in which the part is to be mounted, as is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, as the plug or socket is mounted in its insulating support I! the notches l4 are disposed partly within the support.

The insulating support I5 is suitably apertured to receive the plug or socket device and preferably the apertures thereof comprise a bore ll extending into the support from one face thereof a distance equal to the length of the cylindrical portion In of the plug or socket to be mounted therein. A crescentshaped slot l1 preferably semi-circular extends into the support from the opposite face thereof and joins the cylindrical bore Hi. The radii of the bore and slot are the same and they are coaxial so that the superimposed walls lie in a common plane.

The plug or socket device is assembled in the insulated support merely by inserting the semi- H is connected to a termiof a weakened or franlength. The tube may site direction.

circular end into the cylindrical bore l8 and then into the bore [1, until the cylindrical portion Ill of the device is housed in the bore I6, with the end of the portion In engaging the bottom of the bore IE to prevent movement of the device in one direction. In. this position the semi-circular notches l4 lie partly within and partly outside-of the support. The sides of the semi-circular terminal por ion I l2'fmaythen be distorted out of the plane of the portion ll *andthe bore II; which will prevent the displacement oi the plug or socket devices out of the support in the oppo- The distortion of the sides socket from the support, as

operation of attaching a conductorcurate- .the

of the terminal par; tion I! to prevent displacement:-oi the plugmh above 'desc'ribed, ady

vantaseously m y be c d is i 'ic'id a to proved' cbntacts having cylindrical and semiaaeaeso nomical incost of manufacture, and may be quickly installed andremoved for replacement by "evenunskilled mechanics in the field.

"while I have illustrated and described my imcylindrical. portiona; it will be apparent that the device, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. Conven iently a bare conductor core 20 is laid withinthe semii raul erm e lg i eee q t e t er ctpreheat-aroun t e er. E s.- e de with a suitable instrument, as a pair oipliers,

' ibe idesyoflthain rt pn warethus ben Lout of hem.

clam d asainst tlie. ca -Pro: S53 09d lect ta t there ith; as'shown shoil l either he p ug or-s0cket1-deyice-become d ma e n use. ltimay; r a i beiren ovedrand ireplacedibyea new ne, by a-workman in the, field, @byimerely :bendin'g.:itheiiterminaleportion I21 back and.;' folthi tor; brea trangiblezportio 3. The cylindricalrportion 'ln .-'an'dc.:.tlie :semicircular; portion :1 2| 2 may cthen; be removed by merely withdrawing hemwfromzthe F erie-:2! 65- @Arn'ew edevicecmay: then the ginser-tetl in the ssupp rt and: connected .to, the conductor core .a above. described .In 's-makin'g'." a. plu e' t n f evic'ea according :to th m. fi k lma'y be? made het r s e ti-shabcd slot 1 i Pla eme t o the e ic f om-the beemployediitsde i ed: ,sEurthenn ra the inv n- ,-tion is, noegtobe restricted ctoitheespecific; details {claim-z; 41 U An electricaltcontact evice: omprisin'gaan insulatingj :support;;formed.::with aicbore ge'xtending bore 'rthroughoutsar .a. metal contact device ihaving a? portion';.extendinvention is not restricted to the use of such shapes; as square, elliptical and other shapes may shownand; described. butincludes as welt equivalents as defined in the following olai only partlytherethroughefroma-one-:faceathereof, a relatively snarroweslot extendingkintozl said suppQrt'fl'om 'thGfOPDQ-Sitfffifiltd a 'depthltoiioinz'said portion. onlyuof, itsa periphery,

:inginto said:boreaandian textensioii portion cox:-

andto-secure'said C ,respondin'gto: thefrshape ofr'said slot; said exten sion portionrbeingofiarlength exceeding itheldepth .of said slot so as -.to extendbeyond a1-;face ci -saidsupportpithe-sides lof lsaidfex'tended portiori being bent'longitudinallyithereof saround-r: conductor core and ctherebyioutzo'i alignmntifivith said slot tonestablishzelectricalrccnnectionior said 'conta'ct ontactin said-support: WQQDWARD" 

